In a time of large corporate organizations, the individual worker seems to be a dispensable asset. Nothing is more exemplifying of this perspective as the termination of large numbers of employees from various organizations. Not all corporations are ruthless, terminating organizations that heartlessly cut thousands of its employees from payroll, though. In recent years, responsibility on the part of corporate businesspeople has taken place through outplacement programs.
One model of corporate social responsibility, the household model, values the employees above and beyond all other aspects of the corporation. Employees are, in fact, a corporation's most valuable asset. Use of the household model of corporate social responsibility leads directly to the objective of this discussion: individual participation in organizations.
It is considerably enlightening to know that corporate businesspeople are making an effort to "meet the individual half-way" through such programs as outplacement programs. Without outplacement programs entire communities could be economically destroyed should hundreds, perhaps thousands, of employees be terminated simultaneously.
The process of termination is a traumatic experience for an individual. Therefore, an individual's participation in various organizational aspects of corporate business is crucial. Outplacement programs are organizations set up within a corporation with the sole purpose of easing individuals into another job position after termination.
Assisting employees in reentering the work force in a timely manner not only saves corporations millions of dollars, but reflects the voluntary social responsibility of individuals in charge of such corporations. By "voluntary," it is meant that there are no coercive governmental influences. Such voluntary responsibility is a noteworthy trait of the integrity of the modern corporate structure. What could be better than investing in a "corporation's invisible capital"—managers and employees?[4]
Other organizations have realized the need of forming "discussion groups" to deal with ethical situations. Major hospitals have initiated hospital ethics committees designed to handle ethic-sensitive issues that arise within the medical profession. A hospital ethics committee deals with "quality of life" issues as defined by individuals. Issues such as respecting the decision of a competent patient to refuse life-sustaining treatment; making an attempt to define the rights of a handicapped newborn; and evaluating a person's decision-making ability can all be seriously emotional issues that require the clarification of individual values and the ability to think and reason clearly. Such issues are all culturally, religiously, and morally challenging and require a diverse collection of individuals to be present on ethics committees.
Generally, the principle of such committees is that individuals on the committee have some relevance to the purpose, or mission, of the committee. Undoubtedly, professionals involved with the issues at hand (e.g. physicians, nurses, and social workers) should constitute a considerable percentage of the members on a committee. As well, laypersons have been able to participate in committee discussions (Presently, such people are considered as "consumer representatives.”) The qualifications of ethics committee members include the interest to utilize ethical problem-solving and decision-making processes. Membership qualification need not be comprised solely of an individual's professional status or experience, but their character, personality and attitude. In a few cases, a person's qualities of temperament and capacity to think critically have outweighed their professional credentials.
Final selection of committee members should be based on their general concern for the welfare of those involved in the outcome of the committee's decision and an interest in matters of ethical content[4]. Hence, an individual needs to accept a personal responsibility to understand the emotional and ethical aspects of a decision as well as have a general concern for the welfare of others.
Motivating citizens to take actions against unjust ethical decisions, to participate in the development of ethically sound decisions, or accept personal responsibility for the results of one's own research and development isn't an easy task. For instance, consider the harsh reality that citizens of the United States who partake in the act of smoking are responsible for an annual $52 billion expense payed for by American tax payers. Those who consumed alcohol were responsible for $70 billion in health-care in 1989. Improper diets and a lack of exercise constituted an expense of $158 billion in 1985. The solution to each issue constitutes personal responsibility on part of nearly every American citizen to educate, to counsel, or to accept one's own addictions and seek help. The result of taking such responsibility benefits the common good of the nation.[10]
To conclude the current discussion, consider the following cases of organizations that have caused harm, or created an ethically challenging situation. In each case, though seemingly minor to the above mentioned cases of employee termination, hospital ethics committees and national health-care problems, the common factor of a solution to the given problem is an individual that took the initiative of personal responsibility. Such stories serve as examples of how an individual's actions can lead to success.
Personal Ethics. Walter Swan, a retired plasterer in Arizona, wanted to live an active retirement. After writing his autobiography, he was refused a publishing contract. In response, Swan decided to publish the book on his own, and opened his own bookstore that now sells only his book. Without publication of his book, Swan would have been an inactive, retired man. This example emphasizes the ethical content of how retired individuals are considered as "dispensable" and worthless. Through his actions, Swan says otherwise.
Health Ethics. Businesses selling yogurt from their machines could not contain the yogurt in the machines over night for health reasons. Rather than throw out the extra yogurt, and lose profit by emptying the machine early in the day, Keith Neibdring of Fort Wayne, Indiana, invented the yogurt sandwich. By taking two cookies and layering yogurt between them the problem of bacterial growth in day-old yogurt was solved. Also, the cookies increased variety in products, thus producing a larger profit for the company selling the yogurt.
Environmental Ethics. The grounds manager of Brigham Young University of Provo, Utah, was given the responsibility of solving the university's problem of rising landfill expenses. In response, Roy Peterman, initiated a university-wide recycling program that turned 10,000 tons of waste material into compost, sold 12 tons of aluminum cans, 120 tons of cardboard, 150 tons of newspaper, and 200 tons of miscellaneous waste in 1990. Such a program saved the university tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention the incredible environmental benefits.[10]
- R. E. Karp, and N. M. Weaver, "Ethical Values Underlying the Termination Process," Business and Society, pp. 1-6 (Spring 1991).
- L. Tilton, "What's Your Problem?," The Freeman, 404-405 (Nov. 1991).